New release from Josie Malone

Josie Malone lives on the family farm, a riding stable in the Cascade foothills. She organizes most of the riding programs, teaches horsemanship, nurses sick horses, holds for the shoer, and trains whoever needs training – four-legged and two-legged. And she writes in her spare time, to include two paranormal western romance series, Liberty Valley Love - "Where no matter what, soulmates find each other." and the Baker City Hearts & Haunts series, "Where love is real and so are the ghosts!"  Hero Spell is her latest release and can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LVQWF1P  

Blurb:

Extraordinary pony farm manager Audra Dawson does it all, training ponies, teaching children to ride and looking after the livestock at Silver Lake Pony Ranch. She sets her sights on the man of her dreams—a man she adores, despite the fact he has other plans. He sees her as a friend, a potential sister-in-law, and a woman more capable than most Army generals—a cross between Gunga-Din and Alexander the Great—but not someone he wants to be involved with romantically. Meanwhile her employer’s two mischievous kids are determined to find the “perfect” man for her and they cast the Hero Spell.

The Magic is Back!

A legend in his own mind, veterinarian Joe Watkins knows his destiny when he sees Audra again. She needs him as much as he does her. He'll capture her stubborn heart. Between Audra's family who puts the "fun back in dysfunctional," apparently random animal poisonings, a stranger who claims to have traveled through Time, and the trials and tribulations of the summer season on the pony farm, tensions increase with the summer heat. Will the magic last this time or is it just a fling brought about by the Hero Spell? 

Excerpt: 

Chapter 1

Everett, Washington - February 1^st, 2018

Audra Dawson watched as her best friend casually sauntered into the Fandango Room at Billy-Bob’s Cowboy Bar & Grill. Ginger’s curvy body was wrapped in a fringed blouse, green suede skirt, and high-heeled cowboy boots. Pink and red curls framed her face and brushed her shoulders. Her makeup was better suited to a Saturday night out than an afternoon party. But the look worked for her, as the ample tips she made bartending at Billy-Bob’s could attest.

“So,” Ginger drawled, as she approached, “how are things coming along? You look ripe for murder. You look like someone kicked your dog, then stole your man. Or maybe,” she eyed Audra critically and amended, “like you’ve been talking to one of your sisters.”

Audra slowly lowered the roll of green crepe paper and tape dispenser she held, placing them neatly on a nearby table. “Clancy just blew through long enough to tell me the wedding is off.”

“After you made special arrangements for the lingerie shower, she and Kate insisted they had to have two weeks before the ceremony?”

“You wouldn’t believe all of the begging, conniving, and family blackmail it took to get this place, plus the hefty deposit I had to pay. And that’s not even counting the big family Christmas and all the extra stuff the twins ‘couldn’t live without’ at school this quarter. I’m so glad,” Audra said with mock solemnity, “that someone who knows their way around duct tape, rope, and a shovel, is here to help me bury the bodies.”

“That’s me.” Ginger did a little victory dance, more suitable for a twenty-something than a woman fighting her fortieth birthday. “I’ll break out the champagne so we can get good and soused before we clobber them.”

“Don’t tempt me. This is a damn nightmare.”

“More like the day of your dreams. You’ve been patient. You respected your sister’s boundaries while she played holy hell with everyone’s heartstrings. Now you finally have a shot at Ethan.” Ginger headed for the bar and the bottles of champagne. “Are you going to call him and offer a sympathetic shoulder?”

“Not until I figure out what to do about this shower.” Audra pulled out her cell phone and dialed her sister Kate’s number. It went straight to voice mail, so she had to be on the line with someone. “It’s me. I need to know what has your tail in a knot. And what the hell am I supposed to tell Mom?”

Thirty minutes later, she hadn’t heard back from either sister. She and Ginger were on their second glasses of champagne when the door opened. Her mother came in, followed by her older sister, Marlene.

Darlene Dawson looked around the half-decorated lounge—obviously checking the streamers that weren’t hanging from corner to corner, the unfinished party favors that hadn’t been arranged in plastic cowboy boots. “What’s going on?” She pinned Audra with the cobalt blue gaze that made everyone in the Dawson family ‘fess up to a million and one sins. “Why are you slacking? Where are the twins? Shouldn’t they be helping you?”

Audra blinked. She’d forgotten all about the two baby drama queens. She had five younger sisters, all of whom saw her as a cross between Public Enemy Number One, General MacArthur, and Dear Abby. “They got tied up with some college thing and said they’d be late.”

“Those two have lazy down to an art form,” Marlene said. “What can we do to help, Audra?”

“I don’t know.” Audra shrugged. “Clancy came in and told us the wedding is off. She and Kate have changed their minds. They’re not marrying the Killian brothers, not in two weeks, not on horseback on Valentine’s Day at the Lazy B, not ever.”

“Lions, tigers and bears—oh my.” Darlene eased out of a denim jacket and eyed Audra, then Ginger. “Pour us each a glass of champagne, Ginger. Give me your phone, Audra. I left mine at home in my other purse. I need to call and warn the boys’ mom before she arrives with her entourage and that gossip gal from the local paper. It’ll be okay, honey. Better broken engagements than divorces.”

Audra stared at her. At fifty-seven, her mother was more of a realist than a romantic. While she claimed she loved both men who proposed to two of her daughters, Darlene was the first to quote divorce statistics and remind everyone that “happy ever after” belonged in movies and books, not real life. She’d even told Kate and Clancy that marriage was an institution, and they didn’t have to be committed yet. Why didn’t they live with the guys and forego getting hitched?

“What do we do now?” Audra asked. “How do we handle it when everyone arrives expecting a party?”

“We tell the truth,” Darlene said, taking a filled glass from Ginger. “Your sisters have changed their minds and then we’ll have a party anyway. I have a horsy sitter doing chores and I’m spending the night at Marlene’s. We can’t return the cake or get back your deposit, so we may as well enjoy the afternoon.”

“The girls will sort this out sooner or later.” Marlene accepted her own glass. “There’s too much between them and the boys to let these engagements end today. Believe me, sooner or later, we’ll see Clancy and Ethan and Kate and Gavin married.”

Ginger brought the bottle of champagne over to Audra and whispered. “I hope not. Snag the guy, quick. You take Ethan and I’ll jump Gavin. They deserve to have grown women in their beds, not temper-tantrum-throwing twits.”

* * * *

April sunlight sparkled off the neatly mown, emerald lawn in front of the two-story log cabin that Ethan spent years restoring on the Killian homestead. Audra parked her Ford 150 near the back door and switched off the engine. She’d debated what to wear for hours before settling on black jeans, low-heeled boots, and a black shirt with a Southwest print. She didn’t want to look desperate even if she was or as if she was chasing the man who thought he loved her sister.

Even though I’m after him, Audra thought, and I’d be soooo good for him. I’d never do anything to hurt him. I wouldn’t break his heart into tiny jigsaw puzzle pieces for fun.

The back door opened, and she beamed at the big man in the opening. Six-foot-six, he wasn’t just all muscle, even if he looked like a lumberjack in a plaid flannel shirt, blue jeans, and wool socks. His corked boots waited on the porch. An engineer for Boeing, he had brains too.

Her pulses thudded in excitement as she slid out of the pickup. “Hi there.” She walked around to the passenger side and pulled out the picnic basket. “Hope you’re hungry. I brought dinner.”

She strolled toward him and watched a smile creep across his rugged features and land in silver-gray eyes. Even with the salt and pepper brown hair, he still reminded her of the boy she’d met so many years before.

“Sweetheart, if you’re cooking, I’m starving.” He took the basket from her. “I smell fried chicken.”

“And the rest of your faves too.” She’d spent her one day off a week cooking for him and loved every minute of it. “So, how was South Carolina? I can’t wait to hear all about the new plane.”

* * * *

Ginger filled a glass with Riesling and put it in front of Audra. “Drink up. You’re spending tonight with me and I’m driving so you can get snockered. How could this happen? You’ve given your heart and soul to Xanadu Arabians for the past three years. How did they have the gall to pass you over for farm manager when you’ve been running the place for the last six months?”

Audra choked down a swallow of wine, trying to drown her tears. She couldn’t cry in Billy-Bob’s, not when everything would be reported back to family, friends, and other horse professionals in the county.

“What are they thinking?” Ginger wiped down the bar. “Didn’t old man Bergstrom say they had the best breed auction ever with you in charge? They actually turned a profit last year.”

“I know.” Audra chugged down the rest of the white wine. “I was there, remember? He said I could stay on as Jack Abbot’s assistant, that Jack would be glad to let me run the breeding program.”

“Jack is a lazy, worthless good-for-nothing, and he’s now reached his level of incompetence.” Ginger picked up the empty glass and replaced it with a full one. “He’d have you doing all the grunt work while he reaped all the bennies.”

“I know.” Audra stared into the depths of her wine glass. How could she say she’d miss the horses more than the people at Xanadu, especially the filly she’d raised from an orphaned foal? And the Bergstroms wouldn’t sell her the horse she loved. She struggled to swallow the lump in her throat and keep up her professional front.

Taking a deep breath, Audra said, “Jack is a good trainer if he gets close supervision, but there’s a lot more to running a purebred horse operation than handling the stock. Bergstrom said that if I went to work at my mom’s, he’d sue her because of the non-competitive clause in my contract. I don’t know what I’m going to do. My family will freak if I move out of Washington State to find a new position.”

“I’ve changed jobs for years, my dear, so let me tell you the proper response when you get screwed by a boss. Tonight, you get drunk. Tomorrow, you move in with me. And then, we call around and find you a stable management job that’s out of Xanudu’s reach. As for your family, it’d do them a world of good if they had to grow up and stop dumping on you.”

* * * *

Lynn glanced around the cafeteria but didn’t see her brother anywhere. Where had he disappeared to now? He was supposed to eat lunch with her and the other eighth-graders because he didn’t get along well with kids his own age. Granted, he’d made a few friends with some of the sixth-graders, but Jake was just too smart for his own good. Maybe, things would be better at their new school in the fall.

Carrying the tray with her pizza and salad, Lynn headed for the table where Cassie already sat. “Have you seen Jake?”

“Yeah. He took his lunch and went outside. He said he had some serious thinking to do.”

Lynn sighed and put her food on the table. “Thanks. Be right back.” She found her brother sitting alone on a bench in the school courtyard in the June sunshine. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on with you?”

He peeled plastic wrap from his peanut butter and jam sandwich. “We have a problem.”

“I’ll say. You’re out here when you’re supposed to be with me.”

“No, Lynnie. We need to cast a spell and I have to think it up.”

“Oh no.” She shook her head. “Not again. Mom’s fine. She and Sean are getting married and we’re going to Eastern Washington in two weeks. And Audra Dawson is doing great at running the farm.”

“Yeah.” Jake bit into his sandwich and chewed. “She’s a hero and she needs one.”

“What?” Lynn stared at the sandy blond, blue-eyed demon posing as her younger brother. “You can’t do that. Not to a stranger. You can’t conjure up a man for our new manager.”

“She needs somebody who makes her laugh. A guy who loves her best of all.” Jake looked at his watch. “You better go eat your lunch. I’ll tell you when I need you to help me.”

“I’m not doing it, Jake. No way. No more ‘love’ spells. Not again.”

* * * *

He’d left Pullman at five this morning and he’d arrived in Everett in time for a late lunch. He pulled into an empty slot in front of the veterinary office, recognizing the new white Ford 150 his father had posted pictures of on the practice’s website. Joe Watkins eased out of his Jeep, stretching to his full five-feet-eight-inches, and rolled his shoulders. In faded blue jeans and a Washington State Cougars sweatshirt, he didn’t look like the new Dean of the Veterinary Medicine department.

Well, he wasn’t the Dean yet, he reminded himself. He’d been offered the position, but he hadn’t accepted it. He’d asked for time to think about it. For now, he’d come home to visit his father, see a few friends, be the best man at his friend’s wedding provided he liked Sean’s fiancée, and attend his high school reunion.

And for the first time in years, he wasn’t teaching during the summer session. He’d enjoy the ten-week break, call it a vacation, and think about taking a sabbatical to write the perfect book on equine medicine. Or then again, he’d have enough time off to realize he wanted to go back to school with the kids and take over his department.

He headed inside, scanning the waiting room with its comfortable sofas and chairs, magazines on the tables, and chew toys in a basket in the corner. Some things didn’t change, and his old man was one of them. He’d never gone for the new plastic seats. If his patients had to wait, they might as well enjoy their time. And so should their humans.

A heeler-border-collie pup looked up from where it ripped at a stuffed teddy bear and greeted him with a baby yap. The slender brunette, in jeans and a sloppy sweatshirt, flushed. She looked as if she wanted to cringe back in the chair, disappear with the puppy, leash, and all. “Sorry.”

“No worries.” Joe grinned at her and didn’t say a word about recognizing her from the newspaper and TV articles. She’d undoubtedly heard enough about being battered by an intruder to last a lifetime. “Puppy shots?”

“Yeah. It’s the last booster and his rabies, too.” The woman relaxed a little.

Joe lingered inside the doorway. “Aren’t you Nina Armstrong, the gal with the horse rescue place? How’s that going?”

She eyed him suspiciously, then inclined her head accepting the questions at face value. “It’s fine. Donations are up and horse abuse is down, so everything works.”

“Good to know.” With the economy the way it was, he didn’t believe her for an instant, but wouldn’t say so. He nodded at the puppy who kept chewing on the toy. “You have a cute fellow.”

“Thanks. Pooka loves Doctor Art. He’s the best.”

“He’s an inspiration.” Laughing, Joe crossed to the desk but didn’t see Sarah Holmes, the receptionist who’d run the office forever. He walked to the first examining room and opened the door and spotted his dad bandaging a gray kitten’s leg. “Hey, is there a doctor in the house?”

 

To connect with Josie, be sure to visit with her ay any of these site: 

Website:  https://www.josiemalone.com 

Facebook Page: Josie Malone, Author | Facebook 

Instagram:  Josie Malone (@josiemaloneauthor) • Instagram photos and videos 

Amazon Author Page: Amazon.com: Josie Malone: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle 

BookBub:  Josie Malone Books - BookBub 

Goodreads:  Josie Malone (Author of A Man's World) (goodreads.com) 

Twitter:  Author Josie Malone (@josmaloneauthor) / Twitter 

Newsletter Link:  https://sendfox.com/josiemaloneauthor 

Interview with Paige Morgan from Luck of the Draw ~ Julie Lence

      

I began my writing career back in the early 90’s. Judith McNaught and Johanna Lindsey were, and still are, my inspirations for putting words onto paper. Ms. McNaught has a flawless voice and Ms. Lindsey’s novels fed on my fascination and addiction to nighttime soaps involving rich families. Dallas was my favorite. With his devotion to his parents and the family company, and his knack for scheming and coming out on top, J.R. was and still is the best villain. And Bobby and Pam were the couple found in romance novels. I wanted to create a family as entertaining and endearing as the Ewings, who had a lot of background angst and heartache, who were rough around the edges and physically strong, who were tender-hearted. My first two attempts were contemporary stories with a mob theme (another favorite of mine). Both went nowhere and I quickly realized I was more geared toward writing about cowboys and the old west (this is where my love for John Wayne’s cowboy persona came into play).     

In developing Luck of the Draw, the 1^st book for the Weston Family Series, I knew I wanted a cowboy hero as handsome as Bobby Ewing, physically fit with lots of muscles, who wasn’t afraid to throw a punch or fight for what was right, and someone who, when he found the right girl, would love her forever and wholeheartedly. Thus Royce was born, and with him came a family of cowboys with their own drama. I also wanted the family to be wealthy and own a sprawling ranch. There had to be a town nearby, a barn dance, and a villain worthy enough to step into J.R.’s shoes, and a heroine who suffered from amnesia. (I’m not sure where that detail came from, but it worked.)  But, who was Royce’s heroine? Where did she come from? And why did she have amnesia? All good questions, and hopefully Paige Morgan will enlighten you in this interview.

 

Likeness of Paige; Google

Hi Paige. Thank you for joining us today. Can you tell us a little about your childhood?

Hello, and thank you for having me as your guest. I grew up on a farm. There was Ma and Pa, my younger brother, Adam, and my older sister Michelle. We called her Missy. She helped Ma with the chores and kept Adam and me entertained. Pa worked hard in the fields and kissed us goodnight. But then, Ma died suddenly and Pa changed. He went to town often and stayed there for days. When he came home, his speech was slurred, he stumbled often and he was mean. If not for Missy feeding the animals and taking care of Adam and me, I don’t think we would’ve survived. Then one day, Pa came home and announced he sold the farm and bought a wagon, that we were leaving the only home we’d known. Part of me was a little excited. I hoped we were moving to town. But that proved untrue. While we journeyed to different towns, we camped on the outskirts of town instead of mingling with society. Pa taught Missy this game played with cards, and many nights, he dressed her in a strange dress and took her with him. Adam and I weren’t allowed to accompany them. We stayed in the wagon, and when they came back, Pa either crowed in triumph or whacked Missy on her bottom.

One night, Missy took ill and had to stay with a doctor. Pa said she’d be all right, but the next day, to my horror and wailing, he loaded Adam and me into the wagon and left Missy behind. That’s when I learned why he dressed Missy in a gown that revealed more of her skin than the dresses she and I normally wore, and why he took her to town. I was expected to step into her shoes and steal from men playing poker inside dingy, smoke-filled saloons. And as Adam grew, Pa figured a way for him to help with the charade he perfected with Missy. Not fun, but I didn’t have a choice. Pa hit hard when he was angry.

 

What did you think the first time you saw Royce?

I thought he was handsome, with the prettiest blue eyes I’d ever seen. But then, the way he kept watching Pa and me while we ran our charade to cheat him at the poker table, I knew he knew we were trying to best him.  

 

What was your 2^nd thought?

To keep him safe. He won me in an ante and took me upstairs to a room above the saloon, like he was supposed to. Adam and Pa were to find me, conk Royce on the head and steal the night’s winnings from him. But when I was alone in the room with Royce, with him demanding answers to his questions or he’d hurt me, something in the depths of eyes suggested he wasn’t a dangerous man. He was a man who had cared deeply. In that moment, I knew I couldn’t steal from him and spilled the truth, and sighed in relief when he left.

Pa wasn’t happy, and I felt the full effects of his anger. Adam suffered, too, and died by Pa’s hand. Days later, I woke up in a bed with male faces staring down at me. I had no idea where I was, who they were or how I’d gotten there. Worse, I didn’t know my own name or who I was. Royce stepped in and saddled me with the name Paige. Luckily, that was my name, and over the course of several weeks, he tried to get me to leave his family home. But when I remembered who I was and what happened to me, he stepped up to help me… and gave me his heart.

      

How would you describe Royce?

Formidable. Intimidating. Temperamental. Menacing. Honest to a fault. But when his arms envelop me and hold me close, and his hand caresses my hair, I know I’m loved and cherished for all of eternity.

 

How would Royce describe you?

Sassy. Gutsy. Loyal. Patient and caring. The latter two are what helped me break down the barriers he erected around his heart and carve out a niche for myself.

 

How do you relax?

On a ranch the size of Wooded Acres, there is always something that needs to be done, but Royce and I find time to sneak off to the hayloft. Snuggled in his arms and staring out at the stars is the best way to end the day.

 

Best piece of advice you can give?

Always watch your back and trust your instincts. I thought Royce was right about loving me and Pa not being a threat to me anymore. He was right about one and wrong about the other.    

 

Sounds intriguing. Thank you for joining us Paige. Hopefully, you’ll tame your cowboy.

Thank you!

 

Luck of the Draw is available at: www.amazon.com/dp/B0063VOS4E

 

Weston Family Series:

Lady Luck

No Luck At All

Bring Me Luck

 

Weston Family Christmas Stories:

Christmas Miracles

Christmas Hearts

Christmas Wishes  

 

 

Landry ~ By: Julie Lence

 I’m happy to announce my new release, Landry, Book 2 in the Jackson Creek Series.

www.amazon.com/dp/B08FHC2JNH

 

Landry Barlow’s gambling and outlawing has garnered him the reputation of a menace, and a handful of enemies. But in sleepy Jackson Creek, his foremost concern isn’t someone gunning for him. His brother wants him to trade his saloon for a homestead, partner with him outfitting the army with horses. Raised in a bordello by a mother who valued her parlor more than him and deceived by another, Landry isn’t sure he’s meant to put down roots. But then, Nadine puts her faith in him and something inside awakens.

Camped for the night along the trail to western Texas, Nadine Harper’s father loses his footing in a gopher hole and breaks his leg. Nadine gets him to the nearest town, but the only business with a light glowing is the saloon. Swallowing her qualms, she barges inside the watering hole and freezes at the glint in the eyes of the heavily-muscled man barreling down on her. But when he loses his steeliness to take charge of her father, she’s swept up in the tingles peppering her skin. Dangerous and handsome, Landry is a man worth knowing.

                           

Excerpt:

“Spent some time on a Mississippi riverboat. Learned to waltz.” Landry glanced around the room. “Not a lot of space in here, but it’ll do.” He took her hand in his, set their feet moving in a square pattern.

“I know this waltz.” Nadine smiled. “Pa taught me at one of Mr. Smith’s barn dances.” She kept pace with him around the L-shaped area before the stove and sink.

“Who’d you dance with besides your pa?”

“Mr. Smith. Sometimes the sheriff.”

“Anyone your age?”

“No. I’ve never had a suitor.”

“You do now.” His blue eyes bore into her and her pulse quickened. “I’m a gambler and an outlaw. Not many folks cotton to that. If you do, you’ll be mine until you leave Jackson Creek.”

He pulled her flush against him and Nadine gasped.

“Before you say anything, some things you should know. I tolerate lies at the poker tables. They’re part of the game. I don’t tolerate lies away from the tables.”

“A-all right.” She shivered, and stepped out of his embrace.

“I grew up in a bordello. Ma was the owner. I know all about working girls, have Patsy and two more in my employ. I don’t mistreat them and I won’t mistreat you.” He caressed her cheek and some of her unease lessoned. “Won’t let anyone else hurt you, either.”

“Are you telling me this to scare me away? Or because you think I’ll lie to you?”

“Neither. Just want you to know who I am before you agree to let me kiss you again.” His fingers shifted to cup her jaw bone, squeezed gently. “I will kiss you again.”

I hope so! “If I promise to be truthful, do you promise the same?”

“I promise to tell you what you need to know. Some things aren’t safe for you to keep secret.”

Huh?

“I’ve got enemies. Men who wouldn’t think twice to hurt you if they thought you could lead them to me. The less you know, the better.”

Can I not ask about the photograph?

 

***

Bonus:

If you haven’t read Book 1 in the series, check out Slade. He needs a place to hide until tempers calm, and although Jill’s barn looks to crumble down upon him any moment, it’s better than nothing.

www.amazon.com/dp/B072Z13YRK

Excerpt:

“I’m sorry, darlin’. I’d never hurt you.” He hugged her tight. “I was out prowlin’ for your intru―coyote. Didn’t see you leave the house. Heard you open the barn door and…” he crushed her closer to his thick chest of muscle.

Cocooned in his arms, feeling his heart beat as erratic as hers, she slid her arms around his waist and held tight to him. Took comfort in the heat of his body seeping through her thin robe and nightgown into her skin. After a spell, her heartbeat eased, but her pulse continued to race. Slade was a big man. She remembered thinking he could crush a body. Or hold a woman tenderly. She couldn’t attest to her first thought, but the second was true. He held her gently, and with care.

Mmmm, she closed her eyes and savored the feel of his sinew. To fall asleep nestled against him and wake up in the same fashion… to taste his kisses and have him bestow on her the same reverence from this afternoon…

She snapped her eyes open, caught him staring down at her. With the aid of the moonlight shining behind her, she noted the stubble along his jaw, but the expression in his gaze was unreadable.

“Your trembles have ceased.” He grinned wickedly. “Let’s disturb them again.”

Without warning, he shifted her to sit upright, rested a large, calloused palm against her cheek and lowered his head, touched his lips to hers. Bright lights exploded behind her eyes. Moisture dampened her palms, and when she kissed him back, her trembles returned. The kind that robbed a girl of breath and made her heart sing. The kind that made her feel special. Wanted.

Excitement over these new sensations shimmied down her spine. But fast on its heels was scorn for her wanton behavior and a sobering truth. She pushed away from him, scrambled off his lap and ran for the door.

“Jill!” His voice cracked like a whip as he grabbed her elbow, halting her escape. “If you don’t like my kiss, say so. You don’t have to run away.”

“I…” she swallowed hard, felt her eyes mist. “Camille’s who you want to kiss. You settle for me because she’s sick.”

 

To learn more about me and my books, or to see my recommendations,  connect with me here:

Website: www.julielence.com

Facebook page: https://facebook.com/#!/JulieLence

Twitter: https://twitter.com/julielence

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/julie-lence

 

 

 

Guest Author Nina Romano

Good Morning! Please welcome guest author, Nina Romano!

The Girl Who Loved Cayo Bradley by Nina Romano

When Darby McPhee falls in love with Cayo Bradley, a wild cowboy from a nearby ranch, her world is ripped apart. Caught in a lifeless existence of caring for her father and brothers since her mother’s death, Darby does little else but work. But a death-bed promise to her mother to get her education now stands in the way of her heart’s desire to belong to the rough-and-tumble Cayo Bradley.

Darby is Cayo’s redemption from a horrific act in his past that torments him. After being captured as a young boy by the Jicarilla Apache, he now tries to settle back into white society—but how can he? If he loses Darby, he loses everything.

Darby is determined to keep her promise to her mother, but will Cayo wait for her? In this stunning tale of love and loss, Darby comes to understand that no matter what happens, she will always be THE GIRL WHO LOVED CAYO BRADLEY…

Here's a little excerpt:

He knew people saw him as part Apache. Others claimed he was left for dead by bandoleros, and because of his aloof and stealth disposition, and the fact that he was shy and nonconfrontational like the animal, people believed that’s how he came to be named Coyote. Somewhere along the way, Coyote’s nickname became Cayo. He didn’t care what people called him as long as they did, and for sure he knew his name didn’t matter because he’d never fit in anywhere. Once you’ve lived wild and free, it’s near impossible to return wholly capable of fitting into refined society. He knew others like himself, children who had been taken and lived with Kiowa or other tribes, and what he saw in them he knew was the same for him. They were the same outcast breed he was, not a trace of Indian blood, but Indian in the way they thought. He’d never completely forgotten his own language, English, so when he finally decided to go back to living the white folks’ way, he listened to speech, carefully repeated words, and held himself close, like a gambler in a poker game, keeping his cards to his chest. He shouldered these thoughts about himself and that other life he lived before as a yoke on an ox. It weighed on him, but he could do nothing to shirk it.

Nobody in town knew him by any other name. Whatever his component parts were, it

was for certain he was known as a man quick with a Bowie knife, swifter with a whip. That was because nobody had ever seen him shoot a deadly arrow. He wore chaps every day but Saturday when he drove the buckboard. Cayo carried two Colt pistols in his holsters and never rode his horse without a Winchester 30/30 rifle strapped to his saddle. He was a man people respected, a man who kept his mouth shut and eyes peeled, even the eyes they said he had in the back of his head.

A bit about the author in bio form:

Nina Romano earned a B.S. from Ithaca College, an M.A. from Adelphi University and a B.A. and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from FIU. She’s a world traveler and lover of history. She lived in Rome, Italy, for twenty years, and is fluent in Italian and Spanish. She has authored a short story collection, The Other Side of the Gates, and has had five poetry collections and two poetry chapbooks published traditionally by small independents. 

Nina Romano’s historical Wayfarer Trilogy has been published from Turner Publishing. The Secret Language of Women, Book #1, was a Foreword Reviews Book Award Finalist and Gold Medal winner of the Independent Publisher’s 2016 IPPY Book Award. Lemon Blossoms, Book # 2, was a Foreword Reviews Book Award Finalist, and In America, Book #3, was a finalist in Chanticleer Media’s Chatelaine Book Awards. Her latest novel, The Girl Who Loved Cayo Bradley, a Western Historical Romance, has been recently released from Prairie Rose Publications. You can find her on Goodreads, Twitter @ninsthewriter and Facebook.

A note from Nina: I’m most blessed and grateful to have had two wonderful authors that I admire blurb this book. 

Blurbs:

Romano’s story sizzles with the tension of lovers—one struggling to blend Apache ways and white, the other torn between East and West—searching for a way to join two lives going in opposite directions.

— Ruth Hull Chatlien, Blood Moon, Winner of a Reader's Favorite 2018 Gold Medal for Western Fiction and Winner of the 2018 Laramie Award.

 The Girl Who Loved Cayo Bradley, a superbly crafted romantic page-turner, is a deftly spun tale of ill-starred sweethearts in the American West. Darby, a charming farm girl, and Cayo, Apache raised, a secretive man with a disturbing past. Sparks ignite, burning intensely despite cruel circumstances to separate them—an expertly woven story with witty dialogue, fast-paced plot, and stunning, enchanting prose! 

— Michelle Cox, award-winning author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series.

Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/2J9NQ6L

Guest Author Sable Hunter

Kingston Ramsay needs a good woman, even if he doesn’t know it yet.

Building a life in the wild west can get mighty lonely for a man who has vowed to never fall in love again.

Lonely days. Lonely nights. Lonely bed.

Lucky for him, he has friends who are determined to help him out. While King agrees to hire a housekeeper, his compadres decide he deserves more - a beautiful wife, ready and able to fill those lonely hours with all the excitement he can handle.

Not telling King about his surprise…might have been a mistake, for when Fancy arrives, she isn’t exactly what they bargained for when they arranged for a mail-order bride for their friend.

Half-starved and homeless, Fancy Grace is ecstatic for a chance at a family of her own. In her estimation, Kingston Ramsay, the man who has chosen her, is the epitome of perfection. She can’t believe her good fortune and is determined to make him the happiest of men…until she learns the truth.

Kingston didn’t choose her, he thinks she is there to make his bed, not warm it.

Determined to make the best of her bad situation, Fancy sets out to prove she can be exactly what King needs. She might not be a beauty, but she has plenty to offer the right man. Sparks fly in this battle of the sexes when these two strong-willed individuals clash. King is forced to reevaluate his definition of perfect when he learns a valuable truth - sometimes true beauty can only be discerned when looking through the eyes of love.

***

Hotter than Hell Yeah!, Sable Hunter’s Wild West is a series where cowboys are king, yet their women can bring them to their knees. Full of adventure and heart-tugging emotion, these books have enough sensual heat to start a Texas wildfire. Holding out for a hero? Look no further, meet seven men you’ll never forget: King, Boone, Clay, Gentry, Domino, Jericho, Reno, and Joss.

  

EXCERPT

… “If you’ll just go away, I’ll make sure you get a nice juicy steak. I’ll bring it out here to you myself.” She whacked the cougar’s paw again. Fancy got the feeling that she was no more than a toy. Not a challenge, just something to amuse the monster. She was tiring, though, and the cat seemed to exert very little effort into the game. He had her trapped like a rat and was in no hurry for his next meal. “Do we have a deal?”

The cougar’s roar made her jump, and she took it as a resounding ‘no’. The albino animal didn’t seem in the mood to make a bargain. Fancy had always heard when a person faces death that the events of their life passes before their eyes. She was glad that did not seem to be case with her. The life she’d led didn’t bear reviewing, much less repeating. No, she didn’t think about what had gone before, she grieved over what would never be. Of course, she had no assurance that the rest of her life would be any better than what had gone before, but if she were alive, she had hope.

At the moment, unfortunately, her situation seemed pretty hopeless.

      … As King’s horse picked its way down the canyon path, he kept his eyes peeled. There’d been nothing by the river. What was the likelihood that she’d traveled into this winding maze? He was just about to turn around when he heard it – the ear-splitting scream of a cougar. He reined in his horse and looked all around. Sound traveled in the canyon, echoes bounced over the tall, stone walls. It was hard to tell from which way the noise was coming from. His heart started pounding with the realization that Fancy could be in danger.

When the next swipe came a little closer, Fancy knew it was over. This wouldn’t go on very much longer. The cat wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was she. There was really only one foregone conclusion. Shutting her eyes, she just waited…

“Fancy! Fancy! Can you hear me?”

Her eyes blinked open. “King! King! I’m here! I’m here!”

The cougar reacted to her exclamation, lashing out. In her excitement, she’d moved just close enough that his sharp claws caught her arm, ripping her skin.

When King heard her answering cry, an ocean of gratitude swamped him. He was so weak with relief, he swayed in the saddle. Urging his horse forward, he went further into the canyon. “Talk to me, Fancy! Where are you?”

Grabbing her arm, she plastered herself against the back wall. Suddenly, she wanted to live very, very badly. “King! I’m in a cave! Here!”

Hearing her voice once more, he pinpointed her location. Jumping from the horse, he winced when the full weight of his body landed on his leg. Grabbing his horse by the mane, he steadied himself and pulled his gun. Climbing up the side of the cliff, he made his way to a narrow opening, where he thought her voice and the cat’s roar came from. “Fancy! Keep talking!”

Tears ran down Fancy’s cheek as she let herself believe she was going to be rescued. “Here, King! There’s a cougar! Be careful!” Making eye contact with the cougar, she warned him. “You’d better run. Kingston Ramsay’s coming after me.”

Nearing the entrance to the cave, he lifted his gun in the air and fired off a shot.

Hearing the gunfire, the cougar sprang back and bounded from the cave, almost on top of King.

Outside, King jumped back, dropping his rifle, amazed at the sight of the unusual, but deadly animal.

“Fancy!”

Weak from fright, Fancy held on to the wall as she made her way out of the cave. The sun was still high in the sky and she blinked her eyes, trying to see King’s beloved face. “You came!” she spoke in abject wonder.

“Yes, I came,” he said, stepping forward to sweep her up in his arms. “Are you hurt?”

“Just a scratch,” she whispered. “And my ankle, I twisted it, but not too bad. I can walk.”

“Let me see.”

She removed her hand from where the cat clawed her. “My new dress is ruined.”

“I’ll buy you a new one.”

He looked at the place. “Not too deep. We’ll clean it and when Domino returns from town, he’ll fix you right up.”

“Let me wrap it.” She went to bend over. “I’ll just tear a strip of material off my shift.”

“Nope, you’re not using your new shift.” King pulled his shirt hem from his pants and proceeded to rip a strip off it.”

Fancy gasped. “You shouldn’t have, King!”

“Nonsense.” He worked to wrap the cloth around her arm, kissing her soft skin just above the wound.

Fancy shivered. “Careful, I might get blood on you.” The fact that he was holding her was too wonderful to process. Part of her mind wanted to think this amazing rescue was another of her daydreams. Very possibly, she was still in the cave and the cougar was inching closer.

“I don’t give a damn.” Taking her in his arms, he sought out her mouth with his, covering her lips and kissing her with complete abandon.

When his mouth slid from her lips to her neck, she cupped the side of his beautiful face. “Are you real?”

“I’m a jackass, but I’m real.” He kissed her again for good measure. “I’m so sorry, Fancy. So damn sorry.”

If this is what happened when she got cornered by a cougar, Fancy planned on putting the big cat on retainer.


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